Technical Frozen gearbox Bravo T-jet 09

peetz · Jan 19, 2015

Hi Fiat peoples

I am in a bit of trouble with my 09 Fiat bravo t-jet. I love the car, had it for two years now but whenever the weather gets below freezing the gearbox freezes up. I usually turn engine on and leave it for a while and it frees itself up, this morning I was running late and forced it and I have broken something.

Now I cannot get it into reverse ...if I really try to push it in the direction of reverse the whole gearstick twists round but still doent manage to engage...I can put it forward gears.

The question is ...what now and what have I most probably done??

It is not under warranty and my car repair knowledge is limited to brake pad /filter changes.

Any information /probable repair required and probable cost would be much appreciated....haven't approached a garage for repairs yet , wanted to get more info before I approach anyone.

Thanks :bang:

cardinalbiggles · Jan 19, 2015

peetz said:
Hi Fiat peoples

I am in a bit of trouble with my 09 Fiat bravo t-jet. I love the car, had it for two years now but whenever the weather gets below freezing the gearbox freezes up. I usually turn engine on and leave it for a while and it frees itself up, this morning I was running late and forced it and I have broken something.

Now I cannot get it into reverse ...if I really try to push it in the direction of reverse the whole gearstick twists round but still doent manage to engage...I can put it forward gears.

The question is ...what now and what have I most probably done??

It is not under warranty and my car repair knowledge is limited to brake pad /filter changes.

Any information /probable repair required and probable cost would be much appreciated....haven't approached a garage for repairs yet , wanted to get more info before I approach anyone.

Thanks :bang:

Gear linkages. When I got my 165 new the first winter I had this problem, Fiat replaced the linkages with a modified version of them as they were apparently aware of the problem. The problem is water getting in to them from the engine bay and freezing.

aurick86 · Jan 19, 2015

gear cables... one of them has snapped.
you can probably only put the car in 3rd and 4th.

peetz · Jan 19, 2015

Gear linkages/cable......is it a costly/complicated job ...I know cost would vary but typically. Even having a very rough idea of cost would be so much better than going in blind.
Thanks

1.8Stilo · Jan 19, 2015

The 165 Mjet has a different gear box to the tjet that uses the M32.

Good news is the M32 is a common gearbox so it wont have to be a dealer only fix. The extent of the damage will only be known when the gearbox is removed.

I'd personally use a specialist like autolusso or alfa workshop? Where are you based.

I've found changing the gearbox oil will help with the stiffness/freezing you speak of. Of course this will be done now when your gearbox is repairer.

Also the M32 has a common bearing failure which I'd get changed whilst the box is out as most of the cost will be labour - two birds one stone and all that!

aurick86 · Jan 19, 2015

I don't know how much the cables cost ..probably 200€ +/-50€
Labor..take off the dust shields .. take off the exhaust, remove the heat shield, remove a access panel, remove cables...
You don't have to remove the gearbox to replace the cables!!!!!!!!
"installation is reverse of removal"
then adjust for fine, precise gear changes... ( a little fiddling here goes a looong way)
so about 1.5 -2 hours

dtwelve · Jan 19, 2015

sorry for jumping in on the thread mine is sticky with the side to side movement on the mjet when its warmer im going to remove the long bolt that connects to the cable clean and snad down with fine emery cloth ,

my question is how do you fine tune the cables to make it better

peetz · Jan 19, 2015

Thanks for input guys....I am actually based on the west coast of Scotland....so was either gonna take to a local mechanic or a nearby fiat dealer but yeah I am not confident in either tbh, I will do my research before I take it to anyone......

rafsteve · Jan 19, 2015

dtwelve said:
sorry for jumping in on the thread mine is sticky with the side to side movement on the mjet when its warmer im going to remove the long bolt that connects to the cable clean and snad down with fine emery cloth ,

my question is how do you fine tune the cables to make it better

A quick blast of wd40 on the linkage that is just behind the battery and then a firm waggling of the stick and abit more oil afterwards will free it up untill you can clean it

seanxtown · Jan 20, 2015

Hi, I have an 08 plate t-jet 150 and last week when the temp was sub-zero my gearbox froze and I had to force it through the gears. After the car was running it changed gear easily and since then (even in the same sub-zero conditions) it hasn't frozen again. I see on here it is common so have let it alone.

aurick86 · Jan 20, 2015

seanxtown said:
Hi, I have an 08 plate t-jet 150 and last week when the temp was sub-zero my gearbox froze and I had to force it through the gears. After the car was running it changed gear easily and since then (even in the same sub-zero conditions) it hasn't frozen again. I see on here it is common so have let it alone.

try to use some Teflon spray lubricant and get it into the cable lines.

seanxtown · Jan 20, 2015

aurick86 said:
try to use some Teflon spray lubricant and get it into the cable lines.

Thanks, I'll get some and give it a try if/when it freezes again.

tomowal · Feb 2, 2015

I've got a 2010 Bravo 150 T-Jet. For the first time in around 5 years of owning it, I have had this frozen gearbox problem twice in the past couple of weeks. Both times it was around -3 centigrade.

It happened this morning. Initially it will go back and forth from neutral into 3rd and 4th, but not sideways to get 1,2,5,6 or reverse! It took about 10mins of running the engine to free it. Very strange, as it's not particularly cold down here in Sussex!

It alarmed me the first time it happened because I had serious gearbox problems in 2012, when I was without the car for 6wks!! as my local dealer and FIAT UK tried to sort out the problem. Fortunately it was still under warranty, but still a big pain, even with a courtesy car provided.

Anyway, after reading all these helpful posts, it makes me think it's just another one of those things that makes FIAT special!

cardinalbiggles · Feb 2, 2015

Its a huge problems with Minis and A3s and 4's apparently so not just Fiats.

mikem1989 · Feb 27, 2015

rafsteve said:
A quick blast of wd40 on the linkage that is just behind the battery and then a firm waggling of the stick and abit more oil afterwards will free it up untill you can clean it

Any chance you could supply me with a picture of where/what the gear linkage is?
Since the onset off the bad weather my gearstick has become a bit stiff. Particularly in 1st and 2nd.
I want to try this to see if it frees it up. I had a look behind the battery today...
No idea, it meant nothing to me #topcarmong

rafsteve · Feb 28, 2015

mikem1989 said:
Any chance you could supply me with a picture of where/what the gear linkage is?
Since the onset off the bad weather my gearstick has become a bit stiff. Particularly in 1st and 2nd.
I want to try this to see if it frees it up. I had a look behind the battery today...
No idea, it meant nothing to me #topcarmong

Hopefully you can see the parts i highleted in red.. its a difficult picture to take.. if you look just to the left behind of the battery and get someone to wiggle the gears and change between them you will see the rods move

mikem1989 · Feb 28, 2015

rafsteve said:
Hopefully you can see the parts i highleted in red.. its a difficult picture to take.. if you look just to the left behind of the battery and get someone to wiggle the gears and change between them you will see the rods move

Thanks for that bud!
I'll have a look tomorrow and let you know how I get on

mikem1989 · Mar 2, 2015

Just an update.... did it this morning.
During a short I noticed it was slicker into first gear, 1st into 2nd seems the same, but all other gear changes and back into neutral felt better too.
Thanks rafsteve

rafsteve · Mar 2, 2015

mikem1989 said:
Just an update.... did it this morning.
During a short I noticed it was slicker into first gear, 1st into 2nd seems the same, but all other gear changes and back into neutral felt better too.
Thanks rafsteve

Great news! Try get some wd40 down the rod because its a water repellant too.. and just let it sink in mine took a few days and good spraying

mikem1989 · Mar 2, 2015

I'll probably give it another spraying in a few days......
When I get a new straw for the wd40. I only stopped spraying because it dropped out into the abyss :/

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